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Community Impact Report 2022
Community Impact Report 2022

Welcome

DEAR TRASH PANDA NATION,   

 

After another amazing season celebrating Trash Pandas Baseball, we also celebrated the official launch of the Rocket City Trash Pandas Foundation. 

 

This year's Community Impact Report features the outreach, support, and funding provided by the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Trash Pandas Foundation. 

 

A special thank you to all our partners and fans for your continued support. We look forward to expanding our outreach efforts and making an even bigger impact in 2023!  

 

 

Warmest Regards,

Maddison Kendrick

Director of Community Relations

 

The Rocket City Trash Pandas 

Introducing the rocket city TRash pandas foundation

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The Trash Pandas Foundation is a 501c3 organization dedicated to educating and promoting healthy lifestyles through sport and to positively impact communities in the North Alabama region. 

 

The Foundation was officially established in 2022. 

 

Tax ID: 86-1762336

 

Community Impact Report 2022

Meet the Team Dinner

For the first time ever, Trash Pandas partners and season ticket holders had the chance to sit and dine with the 2022 team prior to Opening Night. The night featured a buffet dinner, remarks from new team manager Andy Schatzley, and a Q & A session with players and coaches. 

Collection Drives

Throughout the season fans were asked to bring various items for our different collection drives. All items were donated to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients of the drives included:  

 

  • Toiletries- New Futures Inc. 
  • School Supplies- Madison City Schools 
  • Toys- Christmas Charities Year Round 
  • Canned Food- One Generation Away

Dog Days

Waggin' Wednesdays! 

 

Every Wednesday, fans were invited to bring their four-legged friends to the park for our Dog Day. For a $1 donation to an animal-related nonprofit, dogs were allowed entry and all proceeds went back to the nonprofit of the night. We hosted 10 Dog Days in 2022. 

 

  • Organizations included Friends of Rescue Inc, Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Rocket City Rescue, and Sartec K-9 Unit 
  • Over $700 was raised throughout the season for the rescues.

 

Community Clubhouse Sale

During the season, the Trash Pandas Foundation hosted two Community Clubhouse Sales which offered a variety of autographed and game used memorabilia to fans in a garage sale fashion. Items included mystery baseballs, autographed team cards, broken bats, batting practice gear, and limited edition specialty jerseys. A total of $21,690 was raised for the Foundation. 

Jersey Auctions

 

 

One of our most popular in-game fundraisers were our jersey auctions. We had 6 total jersey auctions in 2022 which consisted of a different themed jersey that players and coaches wore on the field. Throughout the game, fans near & far had the opportunity to bid on a game-worn jersey. Over $100,000 was raised and proceeds were split between the Trash Pandas Foundation and a local nonprofit. Featured jerseys and recipients this year included:

 

  • 4/16- Space Night- Space and Rocket Center Education Foundation
  • 5/4- Star Wars Night-North Alabama Foster Closet
  • 5/26- Armed Forces Night-Still Serving Veterans
  • 7/4- Patriotic Jersey- Honoring Veteran Legacies
  • 8/4- Marvel "Thor" Jersey- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the TN Valley
  • 9/15- Huntsville Stars Throwback- Kids to Love

 

 

 

 

Youth Instructional Camp

In June we held our 2nd annual instructional baseball camp for local youth between ages 7-10 years old. Over the course of 2 days, campers had the opportunity to learn baseball skills and fundamentals from Trash Pandas players. 

 

Players that helped included 1B Braxton Martinez, RHP Coleman Crow, C Zach Humphreys, C Anthony Mulrine, RHP Zach Linginfelter, and LHP Eric Torres

Community Impact Report 2022

Sprocket Sightings

In addition to Trash Pandas games, Sprocket loves to spend his time making special visits to local community members. 

 

Appearance highlights for 2022 include school visits, a Huntsville Havoc game, parades, and even a trip to Los Angeles!

 

 

Player Appearances

Throughout the season Trash Pandas players had the opportunity to make special visits in the North Alabama community. Visits included:

 

  • Q & A session with 200 of our Trash Pandas day campers
  • Trip to the Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham
  • St. Jude's Clinic and Pediatric Wing at Huntsville Hospital 
  • Burger of the Week special feature with Farm Burger
  • Volunteering with Rock, Steady, Boxing Senior's Class
  • Reading to students at Rainbow Elementary 

 

 

 

 

MLB PLAYBALL Weekend

In an effort to inspire participation in baseball and softball activities and encourage local youth to get outside, the Trash Pandas in partnership with Major League Baseball held the first ever "PLAYBALL WEEKEND"

 

  • 200 participants came to Toyota Field on June 11th to partake in a free Hit, Pitch, and Run skills challenge
  • All 30 MLB and 120 MiLB Clubs held various baseball related activities between June 10th-June 12th 

 

 

 

Non-Profit concessions fundraising

Volunteers at Toyota Field 

 

NPO’s had the opportunity to fundraise for their organization during games by volunteering in our concession stands. Each volunteer in attendance was paid by the hour with that money directly benefitting the organization. A total of $57,447 was raised through our concessions program. 

 

Thank you to all of our 2022 volunteers

 

  • 305 8th Street
  • AGCRA
  • Around the Curtain Children's Theatre
  • Bob Jones Soccer, Wrestling, Football, Basketball
  • Friends of Rescue Inc.
  • Havoc Booster Club
  • Huntsville Alpha Rho
  • John Paul II Basketball, Cheer, Softball, Swim, Volleyball
  • Junior League of Huntsville
  • Madison Academy Soccer
  • Nexus
  • North Alabama Soccer Coalition
  • Triana Warriors

Charitable Giving

The Trash Pandas are proud to support local non-profits and fundraisers through additional give back programs such as our in-kind donation program, and service opportunities for our Front office staff. 

 

  • Anyone hosting a fundraiser is eligible to apply for tickets, autographed memorabilia, and other Trash Pandas swag to help raise funds for their event. To date over $7,500 of in-kind donations have been donated. 
  • Throughout the year, members of the Front Office staff donated their time to help serve local nonprofits. Highlights include the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine Prom Night, serving meals at the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen, delivering meals to the Clearview Cancer Institute for patients, and serving as committee members for local chamber events. 

 

Community Impact Report 2022

Thank You!

 

 

We once again thank you, our loyal partners and fans for an incredible 2022 season. Please watch our "Thank You Fans" message below.